Without insurance, healthcare costs are out of reach for the average person, and in some states, going uninsured can come with a financial penalty. Most individuals are left to endure their healthcare troubles without knowing what options they may have to receive care. But even with insurance, signing up and choosing a plan is daunting, finding a doctor can be confusing, and reading a medical bill can feel impossible. (read more about “the problem”)

U&U exists to close that gap. My name is Riya, and I started this organization out of the frustration of managing private health insurance plans for both my parents, along with my own path through Medicaid, a time of being uninsured as a 24-year-old woman with a chronic health condition, and eventually employment-based coverage. From my time as a pre-med student working at a rare disease nonprofit, to writing my college thesis, and now as a medical journalist and editor, I have seen firsthand that this problem extends beyond consumers understanding their insurance. Even doctors and healthcare professionals lack a foundation in it too, and that needs to change.

All content on this site is free. Any donation helps me continue this work as more than a passion project — it’s a nationwide initiative. I hope that one day I will have enough support to commit to U&U full-time and grow this organization alongside more passionate individuals like me. Eventually, we will expand beyond health insurance to other types of coverage, so every American understands the value of what they are paying for and knows their options without being taken advantage of.